Dark Souls by Paula Morris + Contest

Miranda Tennant arrives in York with a terrible, tragic secret. She is eager to lose herself amid the quaint shops, hoping she won’t run into the many ghosts who supposedly roam the cobblestone streets. Then she meets Nick, an intense, dark-eyed boy who knows all of York’s hidden places and histories. Miranda wonders if Nick is falling for her, but she is distracted by another boy -- one even more handsome and mysterious than Nick. He lives in the house across from Miranda and seems desperate to send her some sort of message. Could this boy be one of York’s haunted souls?

Soon, Miranda realizes that something dangerous -- and deadly -- is being planned. And she may have to face the darkest part of herself in order to unravel the mystery -- and find redemption.

Dark Souls takes you across the pond to the most haunted city in the world, York, and follows Miranda, a girl who, ever since her friend died in the car accident that killed her best friend but left her and her brother alive, can see ghosts wherever she goes. So, when she meets Nick, who can see them as well, she starts figuring out exactly how it works while simultaneously being stared at from her bedroom window by a crazy beautiful ghost that definitely takes them on a wild ride.

I liked it, which isn't saying that I hated it, but it's one of those books that's just "alright." The beginning didn't grab me and I didn't find myself actually investing in the characters or the story until around page 150. The story's pace could have been picked up a bit and I felt like we got too much just explaining of the history and foreshadowing and such before we got to where things actually start happening. Miranda was your average heroine, not very confident in herself but determined, and completely confused about these ghosts that are everywhere in York!

Sally was probably my favorite character because she knew how to take charge, even in bad and spur of the moment decisions, especially those that involved ghosts even though she'd never been in the world. Miranda's parents were funny and flighty so they were useful in not being around in dramatic parts, and I found Rob to really just be a major pain unless he was getting something out of it and otherwise, completely useless. Nick was another typical love interest, brooding, with a bad boy-esque air to himself, but it's nice to know he wasn't this frantic all the time!

Overall, an alright book for people who don't mind slower plots but still love a good ghost story!